You Ought To Know David Zinyama, Graphic Designer
Looking through David Zinyama's work you immediately realize two things,
1. There are levels to this photoshop thing
2. David is in the upper echelons of it.
David is a Zimbabwean graphic designer based in the UK ,popularly known for his cheeky manipulation of pictures of the world's famous couples. He was recently crowned "Hip Hop's King Of Photoshop" by Complex (which is kind of a big deal) making him a young creative Zimbabwean you ought to know!
L: Whats your creative process like, from the moment you see an image you would like to manipulate to the finished product?
D: My work is a digital process that is best described as photo manipulation. Normally what I do is I have to bring together all my resources such as stock photography (backgrounds, visual elements, etc) as well as an image of myself. What I then is start the editing process which is basically many hours depending on the concept of detailing and compositing. I face many challenges but if I can see it in my head I know it is possibly and can be executed so there are different editing techniques that I have learnt over the years to achieve the image which will be in my head at that present moment.
L: I was interested to find out that you started out in music before you dedicated your creativity to graphic. What role does music play in your life now?
D: Oh yes I used to be a musician, lets say more of a rapper from a young age, for your readers, just to give them some history. I been designing for 8/9 years now, before then I was an upcoming rapper, I was very passionate about it and as well as being a rapper I used to release mixtapes online from time to time and they all needed covers designed for them. I didn't know any graphic designers at the time so I was told that there was a software called Photoshop that I can use to do this, so I downloaded it and as from then I started to design my own covers. I didn't just do my covers, I did my own myspace layouts - along with this my peers started seeing I can design although it wasn't good work but it was something so the more I designed for people and for the fact that I was earning money on the side, this new found passion for designing kind of overweighed my passion for music and the more I did it, the more I got better, and the more recognition I got as well as my client base growing from where I first started to a global level. To answer your question about music and how it plays in my life now, I do not do it now but I work for alot of musicians, both established and upcoming - that is as close as I am to music today.
L: Who are your favorite artists and what music do you listen to while you work?
D: I wouldn't say I have a favourite genre or favourite artists in music music because when I work I tend to listen to anything that is good to my ears, but of-course with great and meaningful lyrics. I am mostly in to r&b and hip hop, sometimes I like to listen to the music and hear the voices of my native language - it is quite refreshing and keeps me sane and relaxed whilst I work.
L: Complex is one of the premier platforms on trends in music, art, design & fashion .How big is this for you, granted you'd already made a name for yourself with your work and have worked with huge global brands?
D :Being featured on Complex, which completely came out of the blue when I seen a tweet from them, I was surprised and excited as well because it is a website I have followed for years and wished to be on for time. It was only a dream that has come true to be honest, it is good to know how they came across me or know of me, they know I exist and they are possibly following my daily works and updates which is amazing.
L: Lastly, when are you coming to hang out with us in Zim?
D: Well what if I asked you to meet me half way and I will take you out for a date? how does that sound? all expenses paid for haha
L: Ha, Ana David! * claps once* There you go again....
To see more of his work :
